Well



P. WEAVER AND H. C. CRAIG.

WELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY5, 1920.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- Qowenkot P. WEAVER AND H. C. CRAIG.

WELL.

6, 1921. SHEET 2.

dSept.

SHEETS Patents P. WEAVER AND H. C. CRAIG.

WELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, I920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL WEAVER, OP. TAMPICO, AND HOMER G. CRAIG, 0F POTRERO DEL LLAMO CAMP,MEXICO, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO WHITEHALL PETROLEUM CORPORATION,LIMITED, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND, A. CORPORATION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRE-LAND.

WELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL WEAVER and HOMER C. CRAIG, citizens of theUnited States, the former being a resident of Aguila Colony, Tampico,Mexico, and the latter a resident of Potrero delLlamo Camp, State ofVera Cruz, Mexico, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wells,of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to apparatus intended primarily for use inconnection with the vertical conduits or casings which are commonlyinserted in oil wells or the like to maintain an open passage for theoil from the oil bearing stratum to the surface of the earth. Suchconduits commonly consist of several coaxial casings of differentdiameter, each of the smaller casings extending farther into the groundthan the next larger one. The casing of smallest diameter is of verymaterially greater length than the others and extends downwardly to theoil bearing earth or rock. To secure suitable length for the casings,they are made in longitudinal sections of such length as to be readilyhandled, a new section being secured on th top of a casing each time thecasing is lowered the length of a section. The sections of each casingare generally threaded to each other end to end, and the bottom of thecasing is bound to the adjacent rock wall of the well, as by cement.

In practice the lowering of the casings generally follows closely andprogressively behind the drilling; so that when the oil bearing stratumis reached, the casings are practically in place. At this time, the oiltends to gush up through the casings, and it is customary to provide avalve to close the upper end of the casings to control the flow of theoil out of the casings. It has generally been customary to secure thisvalve on the top of casing of smallest diameter, this practice havingthe advantage of making possible the rapid closing of the valve in caseof asudden striking of oil. This practice, however, has the disadvantageof requiring the removal of the rather heavy valve each time a newsection is added to the said casing and the securing of the valve to thenewly added section.

One of the objects of our invention is to .provide means for obviatingthis objectionable condition. In accordance with our invention, thevalve is preferably secured to a casing of larger diameter, and thecasing of smaller diameter is passed through the valve. Furthermore,means are rovided whereby, in case it should be deslrable to close thevalve while a section of the inner casing 1s projecting through thevalve, the inner casing may be held below the said section so as topermit the removal of the said section without,.danger of disconnectingthe lower section s 'from each other.

Another object of our invention is to provide improved means for thusholding the inner casing. Further objects of the invention areutoprovide means for closing the space. between the casings adjacent theupper endy-thereof to prevent the flow of oil upwardly from suchspace,-and to reinforce said. casings against collapsing and therebyprevent adjacent inner and outer casings becoming locked or bound toeach other.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear more fully in thefollowing detailed description and appended claims.

The accompan ing drawings forming a part of this specificationillustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation,of said embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view on a larger scale of aportion of the apparatus. shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, taken onvertical plane inclined at 45 to the sectional plane of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in- Figs. 2 and 3, and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the adjustable ring and segments forming apart of said apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 and 2 designate respectively outer and innercasings, the casing 1 being concentric with and slightly larger thanthcicasing 2, so as to leave a space between the two casings. Secured tothe top of the outer casing 1 is a valve 3 adapted to have a section ofthe inner casing 2 pass through the same, as shown. The valve 3 may beof any suitable well known construction adapted to close the upper endof the outer casing 1 when it is not obstructed by a section of theinner casing. In the valve illustrated, the movable valve member (notshown) is adapted to be opened or closed by the hand wheel 4.

The device shown for closing the space between the outer and innercasings and for holding the inner casing against rotation is shownarranged between the uppermost two sections of the outer casing 1. Saiddevice, as shown, comprises a body portion 6 which is threaded upon thetop of the lower of said sections so as to be supported thereby, anannular cover portion being threaded within the upper portion of thebody 6 and having the upper section of the outer casing threaded withinthe same. By reason of this construction the upper section of the outercasing and the valve 3 are supported from the next lower section of saidcasing by means of the parts 6 and 7.

Movably mounted within the chamber formed by the body 6 and cover 7 isan adjustable device adapted to be moved into or out of clampingengagement with the inner casing and to form a movable closure for thespace between the casings. This device comprises a ring 8 concentricwith the casings and supporting a plurality of arcuate segments 9adapted to fit tightly against the inner casing when clamped inengagement therewith. These segments are guided by the body 6 and cover7 for movement in paths inclined downwardly and inwardly toward theinner casing, so that by upward movement they are moved away from theinner casing and by downward movement they are moved toward the saidcasing. As shown, the segments have bearing surfaces in slidingengagement with the parallel frusto conical bearing surfaces 10 and 11of the body 6 and the bearing surface 12 of the cover 7, the lattersurface being spaced from and parallel to the surface 11. To permit thenecessary inward and outward movement of the segments 9 with respect tothe ring 8, the latter is arranged in horizontal perlpheral recesses 14in the respective segments. A small amount of play may be providedbetween the ring and the upper and lower walls of said recesses, asshown in Fig. 3. For forcing the segments downward into clampingengagement with the inner casing, we have shown setting pins or bolts 15threaded through the cover 7 with their axes parallel to the path ofmovement of the segments, these bolts engaging at their lower endssuitable inclined bearing surfaces 16 at the top of the segments. Thenumeral 17 indicates lock nuts for securing bolts 15 in position.Referring to Fig. 5, the segments 9 are desirably formed with convexends of such shape that when the segments are clamped down against theinner casing, the adjacent ends of adjacent segments will engage eachother along substantially a single vertical line extendlng from thebearing surface which engages the surface 10 of the body 6 to thebearing surface which engages the ring 7.

The construction shown substantially closes the space between the innercasing and the next outer casing at a point between the upper and nextlower sections of the outer casing and also effectively prevents theflow of oil outwardly into the space between the segments and the body 6and cover 7. It will be seen that should it be desired to cut off theflow of oil while a section of inner casing is within the valve, asshown, the next lower section of the inner casing may be firmly held inposition (the outer section having already been secured inplace) byscrewing down the bolts 15 to clamp the segments 9 against the innercasing. This having been done, the upper section of the inner casing maybe unthreaded from the rest of the casing and removed, therebypermitting closing of the valve 3. In Fig. 1 the connection between theuppermost two sections of the inner casing is shown at 1.

For lifting the ring 8 to move the segments 9 away from the innercasing, as well as to provide means whereby the entire device comprisingthe body 6, cover 7, ring 8 and segments 9 may be lifted, lifting rods20 are threaded at their lower ends into the ring 8. These rods, asshown, pass upwardly between adjacent segments 9 and through openings 21in the cover 7, the rods being, as shown, provided at their upper endswith handles 22. To form a tight joint between the lifting rods 20 andcover 7 glands 23 are mounted on the rods and threaded into the enlargedupper ends of the openings 21, suitable packing material 24 being placedaround said rods under the packing glands.

WVhen passing a section of inner casing through the clamping devicebetween the up- .ermost two sections of the outer casing, it 1sdesirable to hold the segments 9 in their retracted or outer pos'tion.To this end, we have provided clamps 25 which, as shown in Fig; 4, arepivoted at 25 to the cover 7. The clamps are provided at their free endswith projecting portions 26 for moving the clamps by hand about theirpivots; and the clamps are provided intermediate their ends withportions adapted to engage respectively under projecting collars 27 onthe lifting rods 20 to hold the lifting rods inelevated position. Whenit is desired to clamp the segments in position against the inner casingthe clamps 25 are moved outwardly from under the collars 27, therebypermitting inward and downward movement of the segments and clampingthereof by the threaded set pins 15.

A will be seen from the foregoing, the device described not onlyprovides means for holding the inner casing against rotation withrespect to the outer casing so as to permit the ready detachment of anysection of the inner casing which may project through the valve 3 but italso provides for forming a substantial closure for the annular spacebetween the inner and outer casings. The locking and unlocking devicemay be operated rapidly in case of emergency and also serves to retainthe inner casing in central osition with respect to the outer casing. nadding lengths or sections to the inner casing it is unnecessary toremove or detach the valve 3; and furthermore in cementingthe innercasing in place, said casing may be securely held in position by theapparatus shown and the circulation between the two casings shut off.

The apparatus may be made of any material of suitable strength, such assteel, and provides reinforcing or strengthening means for the casingstending to prevent the collapsing or caving in thereof, thus tending toprevent the casings from becoming locked or bound together from thiscause.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention,numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows:

1. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and including means slidable at an angle to the axis ofsaid casings to close or open the space between the casings.

2. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising means adapted to be secured to theouter casing and operable to close or open the space between thecasings, said means being adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing inposition with respect to theouter casing or to release the inner casing.

3. Apparatus for use with wells comprisin an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising means adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adapted to close the space between the casings and toreinforce t e casings, said means being adjustable to rigidly hold theinner casing in position with respect to the outer casing or to releasethe inner casing.

4. Apparatus for use with wells compr sing an inner casing and an outercasing, sald apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and comprising members adapted to surround the inner casingand adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing in position with respectto the outer casing or to release the inner casing, and means for movingsaid members into and retaining the same in operative position.

5. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adjustable to rigidly hold-the inner casing in positionwith respect to the outer casing or to release the inner casing, meansfor moving said device into and retaining the same in operativeposition, and means for moving said device away from the inner casingwhen said retaining means are released.

6.'Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing in positionwith respect ,to the outer casing or to release the inner casing, meansfor moving said device into and retaining the same in operativeposition, and means for retaining said device in retracted position.

7. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing in positionwith respect to the outer casing or to release the inner casing, meansfor moving said device into and retaining the same in operativeposition, separate means for moving said device away from the innercasing when said retaining means are released, and means co-acting withsaid separate means for retaining said device in retracted position.

8. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing in positionwith respect to the outer casing or to release the inner casing, meansfor moving said device into and retaining the same in operativeposition, and means adapted upon the application of an upward forcethereon to move said device outwardly away from the inner casing whensaid retaining means are released.

9. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a device adapted to be secured to theouter casing and adjustable to rigidly hold the inner casing in positionwith respect to the outer casing or to, release the inner casing, meansfor moving said device into and retaining the same in operativeposition, and means for mov- 5 ing said device away from said innercasin 1 when said retaining means are release said device when inoperative position closing the space between the casings.

10. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a member adapted to be. secured to theouter casing, a plurality of segments carried by said member formovement into and out of engagement with the inner casing, and meanscarried by said member for forcing said segments against the innercasing.

11. Apparatus for use with wells comprising an inner casing and an outercasing, said apparatus comprising a member adapted to be secured to theouter casing, a plurality of segments carried by said member formovementinto and out of engagement with the inner casing, means carriedby said member for forcing said segments against the inner casing, andmeans for moving said segments away from the inner member.

12. Apparatus for use with wells compris' ing an inner casing and anouter casing, said apparatus comprising a member adapted to be securedto the outer casing, a plurality of segments carried by said member formovement into and out of engagement with the inner casing, means carriedby said member for forcing said segments against the inner casing, meansfor moving said segments away from the inner member, and means coactingwith said moving means to retain said segments in retracted position. 4013. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the outer casing, aplurality of segments carried by said member for movement into and outof engagement with the inner casing, means carried by said member forforcing said segments against the inner casing, and lifting meansadapted upon an application of an upward force thereto to move saidsegments away from the inner member.

14. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the outer casing, aplurality of segments carried by said member for movement in a pathinclined downwardly and inwardly into and out of engagement with theinner casing, and means carried by said member for forcing said segmentsagainst the inner casing.-

15. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to' the outer casing,a plurality of segments carried by said member for movement in a pathinclined downwardly and inwardly into and out of engagement with theinner casing, means carried by said member for forcing said segmentsagainst the inner casing, and lifting means connected to said segments.

16. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the outer casing, aplurality of segments carried by said member for movement into and outof engagement with the inner casing, a supporting ring for saidsegments, and means for forcing said segments against the inner casing.

17. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the outer casing, aplurality of segments carried by said member for movement in a pathinclined downwardly and inwardly into and out of engagement with theinner casing, a supporting ring for said segments, means for forcingsaid segments against the inner casing, and lifting means for said ring.

18. Apparatus for use in connection with an inner casing and an outercasing, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the outer casing, aplurality of segments within said member movable in a path inclineddownwardly and inwardly into and out of engagement with the innercasing, a supporting ring for said segments, means for forcing saidsegments against the inner 100 casing, lifting means for said ring, andreleasable means for retaining said lifting means in elevated position.

19. The combination with a conduit comprising an outer casing and aninner casing 105 coaxial therewith and comprising a plurality oflongitudinal sections. of a valve secured to the outer casing andadapted to permit the passage of the inner casing therethrough, andmeans secured to the outer casing and 100 adapted to hold the innercasing against movement below the uppermost section thereof.

20. The combination with a conduit comprising an outer casing and aninner cas- Ill ing coaxial therewith and comprising a plurality oflongitudinal sections, of a valve secured to the outer casing andadapted to permit the passage of the inner casing therethrough, andmeans secured to the outer cas- 120 ing and adapted to hold the innercasing against movement below the uppermost section thereof, and toclose the space between the sections.

21. The combination with a conduit com- 125 prising an outer casing andan inner casing coaxial therewith and comprising a plurality oflongitudinal sections. of a valve secured to the outer casing andadapted to permit the passage of the inner casing there- 30 below theuppermost section thereof, and

5 to close the space between the sections;

22. The combination with a conduit comprising an outer casing and aninner casing coaxial therewith and comprising a plurality oflongitudinal sections, of a. valve secured to the outer casing andadapted to 10 permit the passage of the inner casing therethrough, andreinforcing means between the casings.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

PAUL WEAVER. HOMER C. CRAIG.

